Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-15
DECORATED STOVES.
Tho Craze for stoves Ornnmented
with Fancy Tiles and Bronze

I
York Mail and Express. have been in
the city the last few days purchasing
their fall supplies. There is the liveliest
sort of craze for stoves ornamcntcd
with fancy tiles and bronze images.
"Why, the stove has now got to be as
ornamental as any other part OF the
house," said Mr.. Henry Gleason, an
active member Of the Republican club,
who has made the subject of stove
decoration a special study for years.
land the consequence is that just now
all the manufacturers are doing their
best to get ahead OF one another in this
matter of stove decoration. The result
will be TO put on the retail market this
fall stoves that III ornamentation will
surpass anything ever before made.
You remember when Oscar Wilde was
here, about SIX years agoP Well, the
change began then. and was caused by
his criticising our stoves and calling
them of pump log style, decorated
with funeral urns. That same year
!
and bronzes fur stoves, and the result
is seen to-day in complete revolution
in the stove trade. Now the manufact-
urers are trying to see who can turn
out the most giddy stove. They are
putting lots of money in it, too. Many
recent models are from plaster casts,
and know of complete sets OF castings
that cost $1,000 and Sl5 600 each.
Among the bronze figures that are
the rage for stoves arc Roman warriors,
gladiators, XII ghts of tne Red Cross
on horseback. Charles v, Joan of Arc,
which is a great favorite, and many
''Mikado' characters. Que of the fav-
orite pieces is The Fluteplayer,
which was modelled after the original
/ in the Stewart collection. The figure
is placed on top of the stove and does
away wholly with all suggestion of the
funeral urn" All these bronzes are
so tastefully gotten up and look SO
mach like the real article that, as a
| rule, they are taken from the stove and
used as mantel ornaments during the
summer
Another reason given why they are
so greatly in favor is that system
has been discovered here for makin
them very cheaply. Sometimes the
models are designed in this country,
but in most cases an imported French
bronze piece is bought and used as a
model. This costs perhaps $40. The
purchased model Is devided into pieces
with the AID of blow pipe, and a
separate plaster cast is made of each
piece. THIS is done because it is i'm
possible to cast cheaply the entire figure
ia one mold. From these plaster casts
brass molds are made. which, when
finished, are given to the casters. Then
begins the work of making the figures.
One caster has, for example, the mold
of the left arm, another that of the
right arm. and SO on until all parts are
distributed, The different casters ill
their ladies with molten speter; each
ladleful being enough to make a num-
Der OF casts. Holding the mold in his
left hand, which is protected by COW
ering of heavy cloth, the caster quickly
pours the spelter through a funnel
shaped orifice at the end of the mold,
until the latter is filed, As soon as
the mold is filled the spelter is poured
back into the ladle, leaving thick Ssh
shell clingng to the inside of the mold.
With single blow the latter is opened
and out drops u complete cast OF sill
very looking metal, the entire opera
ton not having taken more than five
seconds. The pieces are taken to the
trimmers, who, with machinery, cut
away the uneven edges. Next the e.
ces are carefully joined and soldered
by expert workmen. The next opera
tons are Quilting or smoothing the
surface, which is done with "A mixture
of grease and fine sand. and washing"
which is 10 dip the figure in potash and
then wash it. Then the figure is ready
for the platter, who gives 1t wash in
brass. copper, or other solutions. after
which the finish ne touches are put on
and it is ready for market. The figure
can be sold for ST. with reasonable
profit left for the manufacturer.
1t is estimated that of tiles to be
used in decorating stoves. more than
one million VII be sold this year. They
are. made in all tints and sizes. and in
colors the American make now excels
both the French and English More
than three hundred designs have re-
Gently been made up here, including
romantic and ideal heads and scenes,
warriors, celebrated people, flowers,
etc, and the like. They are placed on all
possible parts Of the stove, and are
particularly effective on the doors
and open work around the center.
Small tiles are also put on the knobs
of the doors, and is even beginning to
i no the thing IN ornampnt cookinO